Electric program clock



L. c. MORRIS 1,784,195

ELECTRIC PROGRAM CLOCK Filed Jan. 21, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 7 7 i o o o o o oo o 0 o 0 o 4 co 0 o 0 o o o o o 0 0 000 0 O OMQ 00 0O 0 W 0 0 0. 0 0 o a o o c o o o o c 0 1 l oo o o o n O v Z c o o o o a 0 o n 0 c 0 o o o Dec. 9, 1930.

Attorney Dec. 9, 1930. C M 1,784,195

ELECTRIC PROGRAM CLOCK v Attorney Patented Dec. 9, 1930 Unitas-stares PATENT OFFICE LEVI onynn MORRIS, or NORTH CANTON, onro Enncriuo. PROGRAM CLOCK Application filed January 21, 1929. Serial No. 334,011.

' vided whereby the circuit closing means may. be selectively positioned to close the circuit at any predetermined hour, or minute in the hour. i 7

Still a further object is to providean-electrio program clock that will at all times be positive and efficient as well as automatic in its operation for sounding the alarm at no a predetermined time, or times.

Still a further objectis to provide an elec tric program clock wherein the same includes a rotatable disc having the minute hand painted or otherwise affixed thereon, said disc being adapted for rotation through the medium of the clocktrain mechanism that ordinarily actuates the minute hand, said,

disc being provided with concentrically arranged annular series of openings for ren a v spaced openings being numbered correspond ing to the hours painted on the stationary dial forming ring.

Still a further oh well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. i 4U vention will become apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings. i I

In the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the same: Figure 1 1s a front elevation of the electric program clock embodying my invention.

ceiving a removable plug, each row or.

ect is to provide an elcc tric programclock of the above mentioned character that is simple in construction, in expensive, strong and durable and further Other objects and advantages of the in- Figure 2 is'a front elevation of the insulated base that is arranged directly behind the rotatable metallic disc, the contacts that are mounted on the front face of the insulated base being shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational View of the rotatable disc looking at the rear side of the central portion thereof. a

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View through the casing.

Figure-,5 is a detail sectional view showing the relationship of the plug with respect to one of the spring contact fingers and the stationary contact strip underlying the contact finger. 1

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring system for the present invention.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the removable plug, and 1 Figure 8 is a. fragmentary side elevation of saidplu x In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred em-, bodnnent or my IHVBIltlOIl, the numeral 1 designates a clockcase, the front side thereof being open'and mounted. in the open front side of the case is the r1ng-l1ke member 2 having the front face thereof marked off in a manner simulating the arrangement of the hour indicating numerals of a conventional dial of a clock and this is clearlyindicated in Figure 1.

Arrangedfor rotation within the confines of the ring-like dial 2 is the metallic disc 3.

This disc is formed with twelve concentrically arranged circles of sixty holes each. The circles are marked off, from one to twelve respectively, the numerals 4 gradually in creasing in value fromthe innermost circle to the outermost one, as also more clearly disclosed in Figure 1. The holes are designated by the reference character 5, and each 'circlehas its holes spaced one minute apart.

The outermost circle is marked off at every fifth hole to indicate five minute intervals and these indicating numerals are designated by the reference character 6 also in Figure 1.

Painted on the front face of the rotatable metallic disc 3 is the minute hand 7 The mechanism for effecting the rotation of the gested in Figure l. This insulated baseis. formed with a central transverse opening to accommodate the rotatable sleeve on the outer end of which is secured the disc 3 for rotation therewith. This sleeve is rotated by.

suitable intermeshing gearing shown generally at 11 and the gearing 1s 1n turn operated by a clock train mechanism of the conventional construction that is arranged withinthe' housing 12 secured n the rear portion of the case 1.

The hour shaft of the clock is shown at 13 and the same extends through the sleeve 10 and carries at its outer end the hour hand 1 1 for movement across the front face of the perforated d1scr3. at 15 in Figure 4 provides a means whereby the clock train mechanism within the hens-- mg 12 will actuate the hour shaft 13 in the usual manner.

formed with a substantially circular socket 16 ad acent the central opening through which extends the nnnute and hour shafts.

A series of radially disposed springicontact segments 17are secured at their outer ends to the bottom portion of the socket 16, the securing means 18 for each segment constituting a binding post. The inner ends ofthe radially disposed segments are slightly raised as more clearly disclosed in Figure l; and

the inner end of each segment is directed in wardly as at 19 for cooperation with the metallic ring 20 secured within-a suitable re.- cess provided therefor in the bottom ofthe socket 16 as also clearly shownin Figure l.- A binding post or terminal 21' is-associated with the ring 20. Normally the resiliency-of the contact segment maintains the inwardly directed portions 19 out of engagement withthe contact ring 20.

A rotatable spindle 22 extendscentrally within the socket 16, the inner end of the spindle being ournaled for rotation within the bottom of the socket, while the outer end portion of said spindle extends through a suithat 18 secured on the front able bracket 40 face of the insulated base 8, as shown in Figure 2. A ratchet wheel 24: is secured onthe outer end of the spindle 22 for rotation therewith, and also secured on said spindle for ro-- tation therewith mwardly of the ratchet wheel 21 is the ring- 25; A brush 26 is carried by this ring 25 for wiping-engagement with the segmental contacts 17 and when the free end of this brush is in engagementwith one Suitable gearing shown The front face of the insulated base 8 is of said segmental contacts, the inwardly directed portion 19 of this particular contact member is held in engagement with the contact ring 20. There are twelve of these segmental contacts and their function will also be presently described.

The front face of the insulated base 8 is formed with the enlarged socket 27 that extends inwardly from the outer edge of the circular insulated base, and a contact strip 28 is arranged 'longitudinally within the central portion .of this socket 27.

A binding post such as is shown at 29 extends. through. theinsulated base 3 for cooperation with the contact strip 28, and one end ofthiscontact strip isiformed with a brush 30 that'is atall times in engagement with the inner face of the rotatable metallic disc Extending transversely across the contact strips 28 are the spring contact fingers 31. Twelve of such fingers are provided, and the same are secured at one end at one side of the socket'27 by the terminals 3-1- The free ends of these spring contact fingers 31 are offset as shown at 33, and upon referring to Figure 2 it will be observed that these spring contact fingers gradually increase in length from the innermost to the outermost one. Each of the contact fingers 31 has arranged at its intern'iediate portion, the contact head 3-1 that is adapted for cooperation with the contact strip 28. and normally these contact heads are maintained out of engagement with the contact strip 28 by reason of the resiliency of the spring contact fingers 31.

Number 1 of the segmental contacts 17 is wired up with number 1 of the contact fingers 31; number 2 of the contacts 17 with number2 of the contacts 31 and so on.

Also forming a salient part of the present invention is the metallic plug 35 that is removably fitted within any one of the openings 5 formed in the disc 3. A knurled finger engaging portion 36 is formed on the outer end of this-plug while the inner end thereof is formedwith the beveled portion 37 simulating the driving edge of a screw driver. The purpose of this particular construction isto provide a means whereby the alarm may be caused to ring either for a short or long period depending upon the direction in which the lower edge of the plug is disposed with respect'to the contact fingers 31 that are arranged in alinement with the respective circles of holes 5.

Projecting rearwardly from the inner face of the rotatable disc 3 is the pin 38 and the free end portion of this pinis adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 24- for rot-ating the spindle 22.

The operation of my improved electric program clock may be briefly stated as follows. The removable pin orplug 35 is placed in any one of the cir lesof openings or holes 5 depending upon the particular time at all;

which the alarm is to be actuated. For example theplug 85'is placed in the hole in the sixth row or circle, and in alinement with the numeral this will indicate that the alarm may be actuated at five minutes past I the plug will move Withthe disc and will be caused to travel over the spring contact finger 31 that also is arranged in alinement with the fixed circle of a hole. As soon as the inner edge oi the plug engages with the oil'- set portion 33 of this particular spring contact finger, said contact finger will be depressed to move the contact head 34 into engagement with the contact strips 28.

This will automatically close the circuit to the bell 39 causing the alarm to be actuated, and as stated above, by positioning the lower or inner edge of the plu so that the same will be arranged longitudinally with respect to the spring contact fingers 31, then a longer ring of the bell will be had than if the inner edge of the plug is disposed'transversely with respect to the spring contact fingers. As soon as theplug moves out of engagement with the adjacent contact finger 31, the circuit to the bell is again broken.

" It willthus be seen from the foregoing .de'

scription that I have provided an electric program clock that will atall times be positive and ellicient in its operation, and furthermore the time at which the alarm is to be sounded may beselected by simply inserting the removable plug in any one of the predetermined holes formed ii -the disc 8. If the alarm is not tobe actuated, *a manual switch such is shown at 40 and arranged in the signalling circuit may be opened. I

The brush 26 moves into engagement with a new segmental contact every hour,'which corresponds to the position of the hour hand.

This brush is in contact with only one segment at a time. I

, It is to be understood that corresponding contacts oi 17 and 31 must be closed before the bell will ring. Also the disk 3 and the plate or bracket 9 are in contact with the clock cast to make a ground for the other post.

The clock will carry a complete program I by inserting additional plugs;

An electric program clock oi this character may be placed in schools, ofiices, factories and the like, and due. to its simplicity a clock can be constructed at a very low cost and furthermore a conventional clock train mechanism may be employed in conjunction with the present device.

WVhile I have shown the preferred emb0di ment of my invention'it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An electric program clock comprising in combination, an insulated base, a stationary clock dial, a rotatable disc having circular rows of holes formed therein in'a predetern' ined manner for cooperation with the dial, means for rotatlng the disc one complete revolution every hour, an hour hand movable acrossthe front face of the. rotatable disc,,a

minute hand arranged on the rotatable disc, a series of segmental contacts arranged radially within a socket formed in the front face of the insulated base, the inner end porions of the segmental contacts being raised and terminating in laterally disposed extreme ities, a contact ring arranged in the base with which the laterally disposed extremities are adapted'to cooperate, means operabiebythe rotation of the disc for holding the laterally disposed extremities of the segl'nental' contacts successively in engagement with the.

contact ring for one hour period, said stationary base being arranged rearwardly of the rotatabledisc, a plug remov ably inserted I in a predetermined one of" the holes in said rotatable disc, and additional means arranged on the insulated base for cooperation with th aforementioned contacts to close an electric circuit to an alarmwhen the plug moves into position with the means.

2. An electric program clock comprisingin combination, an insulated base, a station ary clock dial, a rotatable disc having circular rows of holes formed therein in a predeter- -mined manner for cooperation with the dial,

means for rotating the disc one complete revolution everyhour, an hour hand-movable across the front face of therotatable disc, a-minute hand arranged on'the rotatable disc, a series of segmental contacts arranged radially within a socket formed in the front face of the insulated base, the inner end portions of the segmentalcontact being raised and terminating in laterally disposed extrem ities, acontact ring arranged in the'base with which the laterally disposed extremitiesare adapted to cooperate, means operable by the rotation of the disc for holding the aterally disposed extremities of the segmental con tacts successively in engagement with the contact ring for one hour period, said stationarybase being arranged rearwardly of the rotatable disc, a plug removably inserted in a predetermined one of the holes in. said rotatable disc, additional means arranged onthe insulated base for cooperation with the aforementioned contacts to close an electric circuit,

to an alarm when the plug moves into positionwith the means, said means including a contact strip secured within a socket formed in the front face of the insulated base, .a series of spaced. contact fingers secured. at one end adjacent the socket and disposed tra" versely acrossthe contact strip and being normally out of engagement therewith, said spring contact fingers being arranged in alinement with the respective circular openings: formed in the rotatable disc, the inner end of the plug being adapted to engage the adjacent spring contact finger to move the same into engagement with the contact strip at a predetermined time.

8. An electric program clock comprising in combination, an insulated base, a stationary clock dial, a rotatable disc having cir cular rows of holes formed therein in a predetermined manner for cooperation with the dial, means for rotating the disc one complete revolution every hour, an hour hand movable across the front face of the rotatable disc, a minute hand arranged on the rotatable'disc, a series of segmental contacts arranged radially within a socket formed in the front face of the insulated base, the inner end portions of the segmental contact being raised and terminati g in laterally d1sposed extremities, a contactring arranged in the base with which the laterally disposed extremities are adapted to cooperate, means operable by the rotation of the disc for bolding the laterally disposed extremities of the segmental contacts successively in engagement With the contact ring for one hour period, said stationary base being arranged rearwardly of a rotatable disk, a plug removably inserted in a predetermined one of the holes in said rotatable disc, additional means arranged on the insulated base for cooperation with the aforementioned contacts to close an electric circuit to an alarm when the plug moves into position with the means, said means in cluding a contact strip secured Within a socket formed in the front face of the insulated base, a series of spaced contact fingers secured at one end adjacent the socket and disposed transversely across the contact strip and being normally out of engagement therewith, said spring cont-act lingers being arranged in aline-ment with the respective circular openings formed in the rotatable disc, the inner end of the plug being adaptedv to engage the adjacent spring contact finger to move the same into engagement with the contact strip at a predetermined time, said contact fingers gradually increasing. in length from the innermost one to the outermost finger.

4:. In combination, a program clock including a clock mechanism, a dial, a rotat- ,able disc operable by said clock inechanism and having concentrically arranged circular rows of holes formed therein for cooperation with said dial, a ser1esof segmental contact members arranged radially and rearwardly of. said disc, an annular contact member,

means operable by the rotation of said disc for holding said segmental contact members successively in engagement with said annular contact member for a predetermined period of time, means cooperable with said segmental contacts toclose an electric circuit to an alarm, and means removably insertible in predetermined holes in said rotatable disc for cooperation with the. last-referred to means during rotation of said rotatable disc for closing the electrical circuit to an alarm at predetermined intervals.

5. In combination, a program clock including a clock mechanism, a dial, a rotatable disc operable by said. clock mechanism and having concentrically arranged circular rows of holes formed therein for cooperation with said dial, a series of segmental contact members arranged radially and rearwardly of said disc, an annular contact memher, .a rotatable brush operable by the rota? tion of said disc for engagement with said segmental contact members for holding said segmental contact members successively in engagement with said annularcontact member for a predetermined period of time, a plurality of spring contact fingers arranged in alinement with the respective circular openings formed in said rotatable disc, a contact strip, said spring contact fingers extending transversely of said strip normally out of engagement therewith, and a plug removably insertible in a predetermined one of the holes of said rotatable disc, and having itsinner end adapted for engagement with the adjacent spring contact finger for moving the latterinto engagement with said contact strip at a predetermined time.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

L. CLYDE MORRIS. 

